Changing the Status Quo Residential Real Estate in HCMC: A white Paper by Gemma Young.

Combining my passion for sustainability in the built environment and my adopted home of Viet Nam, I set out to challenge the status quo of residential real estate in HCMC and propose an equitable pathway to make sustainable, decarbonised housing development desirable, achievable and profitable. If you live in Viet Nam, or any rapidly expanding city, this white paper is for you! – Gemma young

Having made pledges to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and net-zero emissions targets [53], and with ambitions to achieve high-income status by 2045 [25], Viet Nam has a lot on it’s plate. Moreover, combined economic, environmental and social objectives are so extensive for Viet Nam, that decarbonising the built environment seems to be flying under the radar of urgency when it comes to planning and policy direction. It may be that the government’s promises have resulted in a certain apathy, leading people to believe that intent naturally equates to results; however, at the crux of any promise or pledge is purposeful behaviour change, and despite good intentions, no amount of words can translate directly to action.

This research presented in this white paper demonstrates that, collectively, actors in the built environment have the agency, the knowledge and the resources to do amazing things, not only to mitigate, adapt and build resilience to climate change, but to fulfil other SDGs that will improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in HCMC and Viet Nam. With vision and sensitivity, the ecosystem, natural landscape and biodiversity of HCMC can be repaired, enhanced and preserved; the heritage, cultural identity and prosperity of the Vietnamese people can be strengthened and celebrated, and their quality of life elevated well into the future.

To read the full report please click this link